Laundry machine



P. w. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE May 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.20, 1947 l 4 I wldm JNVENTUR PEYTU'N W DuuGLAB ATTORNEY y 5, 1953 P. w.DOUGLAS 2,637,189

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTUR Psy'rnnw.DOUGLAS H4 BY ATTDRNEY P. W. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE May 5, 1953 5Sheets-Shget 4 Filed Sept. 20, 1947 'INVENTDR PEYTIJNW DOUGLAS ATTORNEYP. W. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY MACHINE I82 I98 I90 200 I as May 5, 1953 FiledSept. 20, 1947 IIIIIIIII Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- LAUNDRY MACHINE Peyton W. Douglas, Syracuse, N. Y1, assignor toEasy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application September 20, 1947, Serial No. 775,237

(Club's- 24) 20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly toapparatus wherein washing, rinsing and damp drying maybe accomplished ina common container without intermediate handling of the laundry.

In laundry apparatus of the classification indicated, there is generallyprovided a rotatable perforate drum enclosed within a stationary washingfluid container or tub. The dimculty of removing Washing liquid from arotating imperforate drum has inlgeneral dictated the use of. such acombination, wherein washing fluid passes, through the-perforations ofthe drum into the stationary tub whence it may be drained throughanordinar drain. valve. In such machines, the quantity' of washing fluidrequired is increased by the difference between the volume of theperforate drum and the volume of the sur-- rounding stationary tub. Thedifference in volume is considerable because of the required clearancesbetween the laundry drum andthe tub, especially where centrifuging isresorted to to provide against what is known as suds-lock and resultantresistance to high speed spinning and to provide adequateclearance dueto relative vibration between drum and tub during high speed spinning.In such arrangements,.there is inherent danger of flooding resultingfrom failure of the drain valveto operate. Such failure re,-

sults from the accumulationv of lint and other deposits, building up inthe course of time and tending to cause moving parts to stick.

Where perforate drums are employed for Washing and centrifuging, theperforation size must be a compromise, since if too small, ingress andegress of wash Water is interfered with and a reduction in turbulenceand washing eificiency results, and if too large, the clothes undercentrifugal force become dimpled in the perforatiOI S, with consequentfibre stretching, and

of the exposed outer tub responsible for such deposits, but an importantfactor appears to-lie in the partial isolation of the layer of washwater between the tub and cylinder andconsequent reduced agitation,resulting from the screening effect of the perforate wash cylinder.Finally, the i ble deposits, by cleaning'without dismantling theapparatus. Where agitation is thus reduced, sud'sing" action iscorrespondingly reduced, requiring more soap, with consequent increaseinthe soap stearates, etc., present and available to form the deleteriousdeposits,

The present invention overcomes or minimizes the difiiculties describedthrough the use of a rotary drum having an 'im'perfo'rate. substantiallycylindrical shell in which provision is made for removing washing liquidtherefrom without the use of-any valves or mechanical means whatsoever;

The invention further provides an arrangement'whereby the draining of arotary washing drum is accomplished solely by selection of the directionof rotation of such drum. Additionally, such control is effected withoutmoving parts upon, thedrum, without any expensive construction, andwithout incurring any of the difiiculties heretofore mentioned.

.The, .invention additionally permits the surrounding, stationary tub to.be left open to drain continuously, so, that flooding, sticking drainvalves, etc., ,are eliminated. The-construction is thus .such, thatalayer of dead air space is in effect providedtofinsulate thehwashingcylinder against loss of heat.

Other fea turesor objectsof the invention are to provide a washing.ai'Jparatus .of. the type described-inwhich the -washing fluid isconfined to. the rotary washing drum, therebycaffording operationwithaminimum of washing fluid and a maximum of agitation, with highwashing efficiency; Because of the confinement of the fiuid to the drumalone, the washing load may be reduced with a corresponding-reduction inthe amount of :washing fluid required and a resultant saving. inhandling partial loads. Also, the agitation is such ,that sudsingtactionis enhanced, minimizing and saving, in soap requirements; a

,A' further :object of, the invention is to provide -alaunderingapparatus [of the type described,

. floon-iresultingfrom unbalanced loads during spin drying. Further, theinvention has to do with providing a resilient support so constructedand arranged as to minimize resonant phenomena, and which may beprovided with suitable damping means to absorb and dissipate a fractionof the energy resulting from the motion created by such unbalancedforces.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings It is expressly understoodthat the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a laundry machine with a portion of theforward cabinet wall broken away;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the drum portion of thewashing machine, its surrounding tub and cabinet, taken substantially onthe line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside drumconstruction;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a composite fragmentary figure illustrating in perspectivethe annular passageway construction;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, showing theresilient frictional support mechanism; and

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the -line 88 of Figure '7.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a base frame composed oflongitudinal forward and rear channel members I t and I2 connected byside members I4 and I6, and provided with corner posts I8 and 20 withadjustable feet 22. By a resilient frictional suspension, to bedescribed more in detail hereinafter, there is supported by the frame, atub construction 24, the same being preferably housed within a cabinet26, which may be secured to the frame members I4 and I6 by suitablefastening means such as screws at 28. Suitable timing and controldevices 21 and 29 may be provided to regulate the quantity of Water andto initiate automatic operation of the apparatus. Secured to the bottomside of the tub construction is a reversible electric motor 30, a drainpump 32 operative for either direction of rotation, and a two-speedtransmission 34, the 'units being connected by a common belt drive 36wrapped upon motor pulley 33, pump pulley 40, and transmission pulley42.

As shown in Figure 2, the tub construction comprises a relativelystationary cylindrical drum 44 having an integral front end 46 anddished spaced rear bearing support plates 48 and 58 joined together bysuitable flanges 52 and 54, which may be spot welded or riveted orotherwise secured as may be desired. The bearing support plates, as anassembly, are secured to the rear edge of the cylinder 44 by suitableoutward extending flanges 56 and 58 on the cylinder 44 and the plate 50,respectively, a pair of V semi-circular clamping strips 60 and 52 beingrovided for this purpose. The plates 48 and 50 support a tubularbearing-receiving sleeve 64 containing spaced bearings 66 and 68, thatin turn journal a trunnion 10, carrying at its forward end a washingcylinder I2, and at its rearward end a drive pulley 14. The drive pulleyI4 is provided with a belt 15, extending to the transmission 34.

The washing cylinder I2 is formed from an open-ended drum-like memberhaving a slightly tapered circular wall 16 and an integral front wall'18. The front wall is provided with a laundry-receiving aperturebounded by an acute angle outwardly flared flange 32, to which isafiixed an annular U-section gasket 84 of rubber-like yielding material.The gasket also is provided with an integral slinger ring 8!, which may,if desired, lightly touch the inside of wall 46.

The front wall 46 of the stationary drum is provided with an aperture 86corresponding with the aperture 80 of the revolving drum, on oppositesides of which are a hinge member and latch plate 88 and 90,respectively. Pivotally carried by the hinge member 88 is a transversedoor support bar 92 adapted to carry a latch 94 for cooperation with thelatch plate Q0 when manually latched in the position shown in Figure 1.The bar 92 at its center point is enlarged in width and provided with aninwardly extending stud 9B of ample diameter to permit of an inclinedsoap dispensing passage 98 therethrough. The stud is also provided onits exterior with a ball bearing I00 upon which is rotatably supported acircular transparent disk or door member I02, having a chamfered edgeI04 suitably shaped to form a sealing engagement with the resilientgasket 84. The soap dispensing channel 38 is provided with a hinged doorI06, hinged at its lower end as at I08, so as to normally maintain thesoap dispensing passage closed except when utilized for the purposeindicated.

Th slightly tapered circular wall 13 of the laundry-receiving drum isannularly offset at I I!) to receive a flanged partition I I2 located a,short distance inwardly from the end of the drum. The marginal edge ofthe drum is again offset or bell-mounted at IM to receive the flangededge IE5 of an end plate H6. The end plate I It has stamped therein twoarcuate channels llll, the channels being diametrically disposed andadjacent the edge of the end plate I I 5. Each channel is closed at oneend as at I22 the closure wall being formed or drawn from the metal ofthe end plate. The opposite end of the channel is slit as at I22 fromthe plate to provide a suitable opening into the channel from theforward side of the plate. An annular ring I24 may be employed toprovide a wall for the channels in order to form closed conduits I23therefrom, the annular wall I24 being provided with two apertures I2 5so disposed as to provide a port at the end of each of the conduitsopposite from the openings I22 previously described.

As shown in Figure 5, and also Figure 2, the radial and longitudinaldimensions of the conduits preferably increase toward the open end I22,so that liquid within the space between partition H2 and the end plateIIB will be scooped upon rotation of the drum in the spin direction,without substantial interference of the smaller cross section of theadjacent end of the other channel.

The partition H2 and the end plate IIG are provided with a hub block $28to which the trunnion I0 is secured as by a set screw I3 The block isprovided with a circular end flange I32 adapted to form a shoulder to bereceived in a corresponding aperture in the partition I I2. Integralvanes I34 extend beyond the flange I32 and are provided withbolt-receiving apertures so that the partition H2 and end wall IIS maybe clamped to the vanes as by bolts I35. The end wall I It, having anaperture I38 too small in diameter to receive the vanes, is notched asat I452 so that the vanes may be passed through the plate to the spacebetween the partition and plate and thereafter rotated 45 for suitablepositioning to receive the bolts !3E., The construction thus describedailords a positive drain for liquid within the space between thepartition and end wall, as soon as such level approaches the openingI38. r

To provide communication between dering compartment IM and the space I48between the partition H2 and endcwall plurality of elemental grooves I48are formed preferably uniformly spaced around the circumference of thedrum it, the grooves increasing in depth toward the partition M2, theradial depth closely approaching the radial offset IIil and. so that thegrooves may blend and drain, centrifugally, into the chest. (See Figuree.) The partition H2 is suitably notched as at I42 to correspond withthe grooves E lis and thereby permit fluid to how from the compartmentHM to the compartment lit. Battles Hi3,- for-example, three or suchnumber as may be desired, be spacedly arranged withinthe drum It toprovide a degree of-agitationto improve the washing action as a result.The shape and form of the may be varied to suit conditioner Water is fedto the drum It through the hollow trunnion. it by means of anon-rotating pipe its having a. rosette spray I52 immediately inside theflange I32. Any suitable packing can be provided. between the trunnionand pipe to prevent leakage, if desired, as at I532. The pipe 556 may becoupled to hot and cold water supply lines we and IE6 provided withvalves I58 and Ifiil magnetically and thermostatically or otherwisecontrolled to cause water of proper temperature to enter the drum It ina desired amount. A sump N22 for the drum id is arranged at the bottomof the drum "It, the same being ecu pled to the pump 32, which, in thearrangement shown, is continuously driven to assure drainage of anyliquid entering into the drum M, from whatever source. The tub assembly24, because subjected to vibratory forces resulting from the rotation ofU1).- balanced loads within the drum-IE, is suspended ina manner topermit a degree of constrained and damped movement. Such suspensionforms the subject matter of a divisional application Serial No. 175,828,filed Juiy'25, 1950. For this purpose, the drum portion tit is providedwith ears Itt, its, Itt, and Ill: at opposite corners which aresuspended from short links I72, which in turn hang from substantiallyhorizontally extending links ti t, the latter being pivoted at one endto the upper ends of the legs It. The fore and aft links E'E l at eitherside of the apparatus are tied together by channel members lit, thestiffness of which is so chosen as to enforce sub: stantially likeangular movement of both the fore and aft links on either side of themachine. In addition, the channel members I'It are provided,intermediate the links I'I i, with arms I18 extending a short distanceinwardly, at which point they are pivoted to yokes Ills having integralcompression spring receiving cup-like members I82. The transversemembers It and It are flanged as at lil iand I85 to provide a springbase. beneath the springcups I82, the flanges the laun:

I84 and I85 being stiffened by angular members I88 and I89 extendingbetween the longitudinal frame members I0 and [2.

In order to locate the coil springs I90 held in compression between theflanges I84 and I86 and cups I82 upon the bases so formed, flanged cupsI92 secured to the bases I84 and I86 are provided. Each of the cups hasa radial section I94 struck therefromand extendingaxially of the springto form an arm, the arms so formed having friction lining I95 moldedthereabout. Each of the yokes I88 has aflixed to the under side thereofand within their respective coil springs Hill, a re1a tively stiffspring clip I98 having friction arms ills] adapted to frictionallyengage the friction-lining iiltjwith sufiicient pressure to provi de anydesired damping effect to vertical movement resulting from forcetransmitted to the springs 1st. The ears I64 may be integral extensionsof a saddle --meniber generally indicated as at 2t2 secured to thebottom of the drum. The drain sump I52 may be integrally formed fromsuch saddlemember; the drum M being" provided with an opening 264 inalignment with the sump I52. 1

In operation, the transparent door I $12 is swung open,-ancl a suitableload of laundry inserted into the drum iii. The door is then closed, anda proper amount of water of the proper temperature is delivered to thedrum from the spray rosette I52. A proper quantity of washing agent I orother substance such aswater softener and the like, is delivered to thedrum through the soap dispensing channel 98. Rotation-of the drum in aclockwise direction as viewed from the front, may be commenced prior to,during, or after completion of the filling operation. Ehe washingoperation may be permitted to continue for a suitable period of time,and it is to be noted that the Wash water, although filling thecompartment Hit as well as the washing com-v partment I44, cannot escapefrom the drum by reason of the direction of rotation and the arrangementof the arcuate conduits I23. It will be appreciated that, because of therelatively small volumetric dimensions of the compartment Hit, a part ofwhich volume is displaced by the conduits I23, Washing is carried onwith a minimum amount of water and soap as compared with machines inwhich the drum is perforate and rotates in a wash-water-containing outerstationary drum. Upon completion of the washing operation, the rotationof the drum may be reversed under which circumstances the conduits I23are effective to drain the Wash water from the drum It into the outercasing id whence it is drained by the continuously operating pump or bygravity, as the case may be.

After draining off the wash water, rinse water may during such reverseoperation be sprayed into the drum for a spray rinse, or the drum may berotated clockwise and the drum partially filled with rinse water tothereby provide an agitated or deep water rinse. In the latter case,after a suitable rinsing period, the soapy rinse water may be againdrained from the drum It by reversingthe rotation to counterclockwise.Any-number of rinse cycles as described may be performed to complete therinsing operation, or a combination of agitated and spray rinsing may beresorted to; utilizing the proper rotation direction accordingly.

During the last cycle of rinse operation, when the 1drum, is lfQl'rfitfid ip. @j C0llIlIJelf1QOkWi$e dimotion; to; drain-lithe h tthereireiel the drum rotation may be increased as the draining oif ofthe rinse water is completed, the two-speed transmission being providedfor this purpose. At such time, the laundry within the tub tends toarrange itself in as nearly a balanced condition as is possible, whilethe speed of the drum increases to that sufficient to extract the watertherefrom by centrifugal force. The water so extracted passes out of thedrum 16 along the grooves Hi8, into the compartment I46, from whence itis eliminated by the bailing action of the conduits I23, rotation beingin a proper direction (counterclockwise) for drainage. After asufficient period of time has elapsed for extraction of a substantialportion of the water to produce laundry damp-dried, the spinning isdiscontinued and thereafter the damp-dried laundry may be removed fromthe machine.

It will be observed that during the spinning operation, the clothes maynot arrange themselves within the drum in perfect balance, so that uponrotation of the drum at a high speed in the neighborhood of 600 R. P.M., considerable vibration of the drum may result. The drum '16 willtransmit the vibratory forces to the outer drum 4d, both through therear bearings 68 and (56, as well as the front bearing formed by thedoor Hi2 rotating on its journal me. Through the suspension shown anddescribed, it will be observed that the stationary drum l l beingsuspended upon links [l2 may move sideways, and being resilientlysupported by the coil springs 193, through the supporting links 174arranged in substantially horizontal position, the drum may movevertically. The rocking action of the drum from side to side produces upand down movement, assuming that the links I'M be held rigid, because ofthe pendulum or arcuate movement of the short links I72. The up and downforces so created by the transverse movement of the drum F8 are therebyin turn transmitted in the form of vertical movements to the free end ofthe links H4 which through the channel members Ilia and lever arms I13rock and transmit such motion to the coil springs I98. At the same time,the vertical movement of the coil springs is damped by the frictionexisting between the wear-resisting friction lining i955 and thefriction arms I98. It will be seen that the length of the links H2determines to a large extent the amount of movement which will bepermitted as result of such unbalanced load within the drum is anddetermines the clearance required by the outer casing 26. If it beassumed that the links l'i2 were to swing to a 45 angle with the 1vertical, it will be observed that the lateral force transferred to itwould under such circumstances be converted to a vertical force ofsubstantially the same magnitude, which vertical force would then beabsorbed by the coil spring and the friction device. The further thelinks H2 swing, the greater is the ratio between the vertical movementand the lateral movement, causing such vertical movement. The action oflinks H2 alone is in effect toggle-like. The action of links il ismerely to constrain the upper ends of links i '52 against lateralmovement and to transmit the vertical components to the yielding springsupport. Thus, the more violent the vibration due to unbalance, thegreater is the effectiveness of the springs I95 to cope with suchunbalance. The arrangement thus combines in a single vertically activeresilient and frictional support, an arrangement for absorbing not onlythe vertical movements of a revolving drum but the transverse movementsas well, together with an apparatus inherently able to variably resistthe variable unbalanced loads likely to be presented.

The toggle-like action provides a variable ratio transmission for theforces created by the revolving mass to the resilient support, so thatunder no practical circumstances can the suspension respond inresonance, since the transmission continuously varies the force ratiowith each increment of vibratory movement.

It will thus be seen that an apparatus has been provided which lendsitself to automatic operation through the use of well-known timingapparatus. For example, after placing a load within the drum andapplying a suitable quantity of soap, timing and control devices may beemployed, first, to control by valves the amount of water and thetemperature thereof admitted to the drum; second, to rotate the drum inone direction for washing; third, to subsequently reverse the rotationof the drum to drain the washing iiuid; fourth, to admit rinsing waterin a sufficient quantity while rotating the drum in the originaldirection; and thereafter, reversing the drum to drain off the rinsingwater. Subsequently, the drum may be rotated for a short space of timeat the washing speed, for example, to facilitate the arrangement of thedrained clothes therein, whereupon the timing device may actuate thetransmission to increase the speed of rotation for centrifuging; andfollowing a prescribed period, the power may be shut oif and the drumallowed to return to rest.

It will be seen that the interior of the drum is readily accessible tocleaning or flushing if desired, and that during the actual washingstage, the entire drum, including the end chamber, is subjected to thewash water and therefore maintained at a substantially uniformtemperature, due to the insulating effect of the dead air spacesurrounding the drum and within the drain tub. Because of theimperforate washing drum, severe agitation of the washing fluid resultswith the laundry being repeatedly lifted and dropped with gentle butsubstantial force to effectively wash fragile fabrics in a minimumlength of time.

While the embodiment of the invention has been described in some detailand in connection with a reversible electric motor, it will beunderstood that the transmission. may have incorporated therein areverse drive, so that a unidirectional motor can be employed. In suchan arrangement, the pump need not be of the reversible type, that is,effective regardless of rotation direction.

Although a single practical embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto. As various changes in construction, selection andarrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spiritof the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art,reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of thelimits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A washing machine drum comprising a member having a front wall and asubstantially cylindrical wall, said substantially cylindrical wallhaving an annular outward offset inwardly spaced from the rear edgethereof, a transverse partition seated. on said offset, said cylindricalportion having one or more longitudinal grooves of increasing depth fromsaid front wall to said offset, the amount of said offset being at least9 as great as the maximum depth of said rooves, ports in said partitionaligned with said grooves, a rear wall secured to the marginal edge ofsaid cylindrical wall, an arcuate conduit positioned adjacent theperiphery of said rear wall and being approximately semicircular inlength, and having a port at one end connecting with the chamberior nedby the rear wall and partition and a drainportsubstantiallydiametrically disposed from said other port, and atrunnion extending rearwardly of said drum and secured to said partitionand rear wall.

2. A washing machine -.-,dii,um,' QQmp'risinga member having a frontwall and a substantially,

. cylindrical wall, said substantially, cylindrical wall having anannular outward offset'i'n'wardly spaced from the rear edge;.,thereof .atransverse partition having a flange seated on said o fiset, saidcylindrical portion having one or more longitudinal grooves ofincreasing depth from saidifront'wall to said .oifs'et', the amount ofsaid offset being at leastas great as'tl'i depth of said grooves," portsin said partition aligned with said grooves, a rear wall secured to the.marginal edge of said cylindrical wall, an

"'arcuate conduit'forzned between said wall and partition of approximatesemicircular length,

,Jandhaving' a' port at one end connecting with ,thechamber formed bythe rear wall and parxtitio'n; and a'port leading through said rear wallat a point substantially diametrically disposed from said other port. g

3. A washing machine drumcomprising a inembe'rhaving a front wall andasubstantially cylindrical wall, saidfront wall having a centralloading" aperture, and said substantially cylindrical wall having anannular outward offset inwardly spaced from the rear edge thereof, atransverse partition having a flange seated on said offset, saidcylindricalportion having one or more longitudinally extending groovesof increasing depth from said. front'wall to said offset, the amount ofsaid offset being at least as greatasthe maximum depth of said grooves,ports in said. partition'aligned with said grooves, a rear wall securedto the marginal edge of said cylindrical wall, said rear wall having anarcuate channel formed therein adjacent it periphery, said arcuatechannel being approximately semi circular in length, and having a portat one end connecting with the chamber formed by the rear wall andpartition, and a cover plate for said channel to form an arcuate conduitthereof, said cover plate having a port leading into said channel at apoint approximately diametricallydisposed from said other port.

4. In a laundering machine, a ,tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls,,one having an access opening, and the-other atrunn'ion extendingtherefrom, said drum having a substantially cylindrical wall joiningsaid endwalls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of graduallyincreasing depth extending'from frontito back, and ports in said otherend wall connecting with said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining saidother end wall and connecting with'said ports, and a semi-annularconduit l substantially coax-- iallyarranged with "respect to saidchamber and having openings at itsopposite ends, one opening leadinginto said tub and the other into said annular chamber, and means forrotatin said drum'inopposite directions and in one diet i if iw e fee sped s done directionbeiiig'inthe direction from said tub port said otherend wall and connecting with said 10 to said chamber port along saidsemi-annular conduit.

5. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, one having an access opening, and the other a trunnion extendingtherefrom, said drum having a substantially cylindrical wall joiningsaid end walls, said cylindrical wall having grooves of gradually increasing depth extending from front to back, andports in said other endwall connecting with said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining ports,and a semi annuIar channel substantially 'c'oaxially arranged in saidchamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one opening leadingirito 'said tub and the other into said annular chamber, andmeans forrotating said drum in opposite diret'iohs to retain wash water withinsaid drum or to drain said drum.

6. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein havingendwalls, one having an access 'ope'ning',-andthe other a trunnionextending therefrom, a door for said opening, and a tub-supportedjournal for said door, said drum having'a substantially cylindrical walljoining said end walls, said cylindrical wall having grooves ofgradually increasing depth extending from front to back, and ports insaid other end wall connecting with-said grooves, an annularch-amberadjoining said other end wall and connecting with said ports,and a semi-annular channel substantially coaxially arranged withrespect-to said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, oneopening leading into said tub -=and the other into said annular chamber,and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions to retain washwater within said drum or to drain said drum.

"7. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantiallycylindrical wall joining said end walls, saidcylindrical wall having means for moving liquid contained therein fromone end to the other in response 'to centrifugal force, and ports in oneend wall to permit passage of such liquid therebeyond, an annularchamber adjoining said ported end wall and connecting with said ports toreceive centrifugaiiy moved liquid, and a semi-circularconduitsubstantially coaxially arranged with respect to said chamber andhaving openings at itsopposite ends, one opening leading into said tuband the other into said annular chamber, and means for rotating saiddrum in opposite directions forretaining liquid within ordraining'liquid from said drum.

' 8. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantially circular wall joining said end walls, saidcircular wall having at least portions thereof tapering outwardly fromone end to the other, and per'iph'eraI ports in the end wall adjacentthe other end, an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall' 'andconnecting with said ports, and a semi-circular channel substantiallycoaxially arranged with respect to said chamher and having openings atits opposite ends, one opening leading into saidtu'b and the other intosaid'a'nnular chamber, means supported upon thetub for rotating saiddrum in opposite directions for retaining liquid within ordrainingliquid from said drum,'-and a constantly open drain'fo'r saidtub."

Infialaundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantially circular wall joinings-aid end walls, saidcircular wall having portions thereof tapering outwardly from one end tothe other, and peripheral ports in the end wall adjacent the other end,an annular chamber adjoining said ported end wall and connecting withsaid ports, and a semi-circular channel substantially coaxially arrangedwith respect to said chamber and having openings at its opposite ends,one opening leading into said tub and the other into said annularchamber, means supported upon the tub for rotating said drum in oppositedirections for retaining liquid within or draining liquid from saiddrum.

10. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein havingfront and rear walls, the front wall having a revolving access doorjournaled on said tub, and the rear Wall having a trunnion extendingtherefrom, said drum having a substantially circular wall joining saidfront and rear walls, said circular wall having at least portionsthereof of gradually increasing radial dimensions extending from frontto back, and peripheral ports in said rear wall, an annular chamberadjoining said rear wall and connecting with said ports, and asemi-circular conduit substantially coaxially arranged with respect tosaid chamber and having openings at its opposite ends, one openingleading into said tub and the other into said annular chamber, meanssuspended from said tub for rotating said drum in opposite directionsand in one direction at two different speeds, said one direction beingin the direction from said tub port to said chamber port along saidsemi-circular conduit, and central means associated with said trunnionfor admitting liquid to said drum.

11. In a laundering machine. a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantially cylindrical wall joining said end walls, saidcylindrical wall having grooves of gradually increasing depth extendingfrom one end to the other and ports in one end wall, connecting with theenlarged end of said grooves, an annular chamber adjoining said portedend wall and connecting with said ports, and a semi-annular condu tsubstantially concentrically arranged in said chamher and havingopenings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and theother into said annular chamber, and means for rotating said drum inopposite directions for retaining wash water within said drum ordraining said drum.

12. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantially circular imperforate wall joining said end walls,said circular wall having at least one groove of gradually increasingdepth extending from one end to the other, a peripheral port in the endwall adjacent the increased depth end of said groove, and asemi-circular channel means substantially coaxially arranged withrespect to said circular wall and adjacent said last-mentioned wall, andhaving openings at its opposite ends, one opening leading into said tuband the other communicating with said port.

13. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls, a substantially circular wall joining said end walls and havingportions of the circular wall of gradually increasradial diameterextending from one end to the other, peripheral ports in the end walladjacent the increased radial diameter portions, a semi-circular conduitmeans substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said circularwall and adjacent said last-named end wall and hav- 12 ing openings atits opposite ends, one opening leading into said tub and the otherhaving communication with said peripheral ports.

14. In a cylinder type washing machine, a drum having a substantiallyimperforate cylindrical wall, and end members for holding a quantity ofwashing liquid in said drum, means for mounting said drum for rotationon an axis at least in part horizontally extending, means for rotatingsaid drum at will in either direction, and substantially imperforateconduit means mounted for rotation with said drum and having at one endan opening connecting within said cylinder peripherally thereof, andextending in an arcuate direction substantially concentric With the axisof and around said drum a substantial length from said opening andterminating in an exhaust port directed outwardly from said drum at theperiphery thereof, whereby washing liquid within said drum may bedrained therefrom through said conduit by rotation in the arcuatedirection of said conduit toward said opening, and retained Within saiddrum by opposite rotation.

15. In a cylinder type washing machine, a drum having a substantiallyimperforate cylindrical wall and end members for holding a quantity ofWashing liquid in said drum, means for mounting said drum for rotationon a substantially horizontal axis, means for rotating said drum ineither direction, and substantially closed conduit means mounted forrotation about the drum axis and having a, peripheral opening withinsaid drum in a region spaced from one end member in an arcuate directionaround said drum a substantial arcuate length substantially concentricof the drum and terminating in an exhaust port on the periphery of saiddrum, whereby washing liquid within said drum may be drained therefromthrough said conduit by rotation of the arcuate length toward saidopening, and retained within said drum by opposite rotation, saidsubstantially cylindrical wall having fluid diverting channels leadingfrom said one end member to the region adjacent said opening, saidchannels being so shaped as to render liquid within such channelsresponsive to centrifugal force and cause the flow thereof to saidopening.

16. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wallhaving means for centrifugally moving liquid contained therein to anannular region thereof, an annular chamber associated with said drum injuxtaposition to said region and having ports connecting with saidregion, said chamber being adapted to receive liouid centrifuged throughsaid ports, and a substantially semi-circular substantially concentricconduit rotatable with said drum and having ports at each end, oneconnected with said chamber and the other discharging into said tub.

17. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wallhaving means for centrifugally moving liouid contained therein to anannular region thereof an annular chamber associated with said druin inuxtaposition to said region and having ports connecting with saidregion, said chamber being adapted to receive liquid centrifuged throu hsa d ports, and an arcuate substantially concern tric conduit rotatablewith said drum havin one end connected to said chamber by an opening andthe other discharging into said t b d means for rotating said drum ineithe di ct 18. In a laundering machine, a tub, drum aearmse rotatabletherein having end walls and a circular intermediate connecting wall,said circular wall having means for centrifugally moving liquidcontained therein axially thereof to an annular region thereof, and asubstantially unobstructed curved conduit carried by the drum havingports at each end, one communicating with said region and the otheropening into said tub, said ports and said conduit along the entirelength thereof being substantially equally distanced radially from thedrum axis, and said ports being disposed more than 120 apart from oneanother around the drum. 1

19. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wallhaving means for centrifugally moving liquid contained therein axiallythereof to an annular region thereof, an arcuate unobstructed conduithaving a length in excess of 120 carried by said drum and substantiallycoaxial therewith having one end connected to said region, and the otherdischarging into said tub, and means for rotating said drum in eitherdirection.

20. In a laundering machine, a tub, a drum rotatable therein having endwalls and a circular intermediate connecting wall, said circular wallhaving means for centrifugally moving liquid 14 contained thereinaxially thereof to an annular region thereof, and a substantiallyunobstructed curved conduit carried by the drum having ports at eachend, one communicating with said region and the other opening into saidtub, the latter port and said conduit along the entire length thereofbeing distanced radially from the drum axis by an amount at least asgreat as the radial distance of the port communicating with said region,and said ports being disposed more than 120 apart from one anotheraround the drum.

PEYTON W. DOUGLAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,089,748 Clark Mar. 10, 1914 1,792,931 Cook Feb. 19, 19291,912,451 Hibbard June 6, 1933 2,230,345 Bradbury Feb. 4, 1941 2,272,284Zimarik Feb. 10, 1942 2,284,243 Zimarik May 26, 1942 2,357,909 RidgeSept. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 578,637 Great BritainJuly 5, 1946

